Apparatus for making sickles or similar articles.



No. 685,962. Patented Nov. 5, I90l.

E. D. WOODS. APPARATUS FOR MAKING SICKLES 0R SIMILAR ARTCLES.

(Application filed May 26, 1898.)

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(Ho Model.)

M- -rJEEE'E 52 AITY No. 685,962. Patented Nov. 5, l90l.

E. D. WOODS. APPARATUS FOR MAKING SIGKLES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES.

(Application filed May 26, 1898.) I

3 Shuts-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

II] I ATM Patented Nov. 5, mm.

E. D. WOODS. APPARATUS FOR MAKING SIGKLES 0R SIMILAR ARTICLES.

(Application filed May 26, 1898.) I

3 Sheets-Shoat 3.

(No Model.)

\A/ITNESEEE k n42 noams PETERS c0. vv-xuroumu. WASNINETON. u c.

UNITED STATEsi PATENT Gr mes.

EDWARD D. wOoDs, or GRANVILLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR-TO THE wooDs SPECIALTYCOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

APPARATUSF'OR MAKING SICKL ES OR SIMILAR ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 685,962, datedNovember 5, 1901.

Application filed May 26, 1898. Serial No. 681,777. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD DnWOODS, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Granville, Washington county, State of NewYork,haveinvented a new and usefulImprovement in Apparatus for MakingSickles to stamp them out of asheet of such metal.

Such a process is not only long, expensive, and troublesome, but is alsowasteful of material. It has heretofore, so far as I am aware, beenimpossible to bend a straight thin blank of steel or iron into thecurved form of a sickle without producing wrinkles, flaws, orimperfections in the curved blade, which unfit it for use. I havediscovered that a straight blank of steel or iron can be bent intocurved sickles without any such wrinkles, flaws, or imperfectionsby'bending the blank while heated around a die having the curved shapeof the sickle to be made and compressing the sides of the blank duringthe bending operation.

By my improved apparatus sickles can be made much morequickly,readily,and cheaply than by any of the known apparatus, and theresulting product isstrong and durable and capable of taking and keepinga good cutting edge, and isin every way an effective and superiorarticle.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming part hereof,and in which similar reference characters in the difierent figuresrepresent corresponding parts, I have illustrated and will now describethe preferred form of my improved apparatus.

Figure l is a perspective View of my improved machine. Fig. 2 is avertical longitudinal sectionthrough the lower and upper plates, withcertain parts omitted, taken on the lines 2 2 of Fig. 1, viewed as shownby the arrow. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through the same parts,taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, viewed as shown by the arrow. Fig. 4 isa vertical longitudinal section of my improved machine, taken on thelines 44 of Fig. 5, viewed as shown by the arrow. Fig. 5 is a verticalcross-section through the same, taken on the lines 5 f Fig. 4, viewed asshown by the arrow, omitting the top plate,

but showing the clutch e and a part of the lever E in dotted lines. Fig.6 is a top view of the lower plate, showing a blank in positionpreparatory to bending. Fig. 7 is a top view of the upper plate with theclutch arrangement omitted.

A is the framework of my improved machine.

B is the lower plate, having on its upper surface a die I), having acurved vertical face I) of the shape of the sickle to be formed. Thislower plate has also slots b and a stoppin b forpurposes presently to bedescribed. 0 is the upper plate. Its upper part c is raised above theupper surface of the lower plate 13 by means of downwardly-projectingribs 0 and downwardly-projecting pins 0 which rest upon the lower plate,the ribs 0" resting upon the upper surface of the lower plate and thepins a resting in the slots 12 of the lower plate. The upper plate isadapted to move forward and backward upon the lower plate, the pins 0moving in the slots 1)". The

cross-ribs 0' have a notch 0 cut into them, into which the stop-pin b ofthe lower plate enters when the upper plate is at the'limit of itsforward movement.

D represents the blank, of steel, which is preferably a straight blank,out of which the sickle is to be formed. In the operation of the machinethis blank is laid upon the lower plate in the position shown in Fig. 6,directly in front of the die I), the lower plate supporting the blankduring the entire operation, the blank being heated to the proper degreeof heat, which is approximately a red heat. The degree of heat may bevaried somewhat;

but I find thata red heat gives good results.

The upper plate then moves forward by means presently to be described,the pins 0 moving in the slots 1) and bearing against and forcing theblank forward into contact with the die and bending it around the curvedsurface I) of that die until it assumes the curved shape of a sickle. Asthe upper plate G begins its forward movement its upper part c ridesover the blank D until it is in the position shown in Fig. 7. Justenough room is left between the lower plate and the under surface of cof the upper plate to permit this to be done and to bring the undersurface of 0 into close contact with the upper surface of the blank Dwhen the parts are in the position shown in Fig. '7. As the upper plateadvances farther and as the blank is forced against and bent around thedie the upper part c of the upper plate lies over the blank, and it andthe lower plate 13 compress the blank between them as it is being bentand effectually prevent the formation of any wrinkles, flaws, orimperfections in the thin blank as it is bending.

Movement is imparted to the upper plate by the following-describedmechanism.

Above the upper surface of the upper plate is a lever E, fulcrumed at ein supports 6', carried by the upper plate. The lever E has a handle cat one end and a screw-threade clutch e at the other.

F is a shaft screw-threaded at f, having the pulley f at one end. Thisshaft is mounted in bearings in the support G. The support G is mountedon four posts H, secured to the framework A of the machine. The shaft Fis driven through pulleyf from any suitable source of power. Thescrew-th reads of clutch e are so arranged as to take into thescrewthreadsf when the handle 6 is pulled downward. When it is desiredto move the upper plate forward to bend a blank, handle c is pulleddownward, throwing the clutch 6 into contact with the screw-threadedportion f of the rapidly-revolving shaft F. The motion of the shaftcarries the clutch and the upper plate forward, the friction engenderedbeing sufficient to hold the clutch in contact with the screw-threadedportion f. In order to disengage the clutch from the screw-threadedshaft, I have arranged a cut-off K at the forward end of the machine,having a curved surface which strikes against a part of the clutch whenit has reached its forward limit and forces itdownward out of contactwith the screw threaded shaft. The weight L, secured by chain 1 to theback part of upper plate 0, pulls the upper plate backward into itsoriginal position. The chain Z runs over the pulley Z.

Guides are provided at each side of the machine to guide the upper platein its forward and backward movement. These guides consist of twokinds-the lower guides M and the upper guides N. The lower guides M actas lateral guides to the plate C, the sides of the plate abuttingagainst the sides of the guides. The upper guides N project over theupper plate 0, as shown, and act as vertical guides to hold the upperplate down upon the blank. The two parts M and N of the guides aresecured to the framework by bolts 0 and nuts 0, as shown in Fig. 5. Bymeans of these nuts and bolts the guides are held to the framework ofthe machine. By means of them the vertical guides N can be adjustedvertically at any height, so as to permit different thicknesses ofblanks to be used in the machine. The openings in the lateral guides M,through which the bolts 0 pass, are made in the form of ellipticalslots, the longer axes of which lie in a direction transverse to thelength of the machine, or, in other words, lie in the same direction asthe lines 3 3 of. Fig. 1. These slots are lettered m in the drawings, asshown in Fig. 5. By reason of the construction above described theguides M are capable of a slight lateral play or adjustment. This is forthe purpose of permitting the guide to give way on one side in case theblank D should not be placed exactly in the proper position, but shouldbe placed or be forced for any reason toward one side. Without suchlateral flexibility in the guides the machine might bind.

P is an arm pivoted upon lever R, the latter being fulcrumed at r to theframework of the machine. The end of arm P normally projects slightlyover the upper part of lower plate B. The object of arm P and leverR isto enable the workman by pressing his foot on the lower part of lever Rto force back upper plate C-as, for example, in case thatit should forany reason bind in the machine-so that weight L cannot draw it into itsoriginal position at the back of the machine.

In order to adapt the machine for use upon blanks of varying thickness,I preferably arrange the support .G so as to be vertically adjustableupon the posts H. The support can thus be moved up or down these postsand can be secured at any determinate height thereon by means of thescrews S, which bear upon the posts H. By these means I prevent bindingof the parts, while still keeping the shaft F within suitable workingdistance of clutch 6 The pins 0 and slots 11 act as guides for the upperplate in its forward and backward movements. The object of havingstop-pin b on the lower plate is to prevent the blank from being drawnbackward by the upper plate beyond that point in case the blank shouldadhere to the upper plate in its backward movement.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: The parts arenormally in the position shown in Fig. 1. A blank heated to any suitabledegree of heat, preferably a red heat, is placed upon the lower plate Bimmediately in front of the die I), as shown in Fig. 6. The operatorthen pulls the handle e downward, throwing clutch 6 into contact withthe revolving screw-threaded shaft F. This shaft in its revolutionthrough clutch c and its connections with the upper plate IIO pulls thatplate forward, pins 0 bearing against and forcing the blank against thedie and bending it around that die into the desired shape. In the firstpart of the forward movement of the upper plate the forward part of theupper part 0 of that plate rides over the blank and lies snugly over andupon it during the entire bending operation, the blank being thus snuglyheld or compressed by the under and upper plates during the bendingoperation. WVhen this operation has been completed, out-off K strikes aportion of clutch e forcing it out of contact with the screwthreadedshaft F, whereupon weight L pulls the upper plate backward to itsoriginal position. In case the upper plate should for any reason bind,so that the weight cannot pull it backward, the operator can force itbackward by pressing his foot against lever B. The blank is thenwithdrawn from the machine and the latter is ready for anotheroperation. When in the operation of my machine the handle e of lever Eis pulled downward, that pulling and the contact of clutch c with shaftF tend to hold upper plate 0 firmly down upon the blank, thus aiding thecompression of the blank during the bending operation. This downwardpressure is of course not exerted as the upper plate moves backward.During the operation of bending the blank the latter is positivelycompressed between the upper and lower plates. This is accomplishedpartly by the weight of the upper plate itself as it is moved forwardand rises upon and rides over the blank and partly by the downwardpressure exerted upon the upper plate through the engagement of leverEwith screw f of shaft F. This pressure can be varied by adjusting guidesN and support G.

By myimproved apparatus sickles and similar articles can be much morecheaply, readily, and rapidly made and with less labor than by theapparatus now in use and the resulting article is of a superiorcharacter. The finished sickle or other article can be readily removedfrom the machine without any prying or forcing.

Many modifications may be made in the apparatus herein shown anddescribed without departing from my invention. Thus the degree of heatmay be varied to suit the circumstances of each case, any suitable meansfor bringing the blank and die into contact with each other may be used,and where a movable upper plate is used for that purpose the means forgiving it forward and backward movement and for guiding it may bevaried. die may be altered, and the means for compressing the blankduring the bending operation may also be varied. Other modifications mayalso be made, if desired.

My improved apparatus is especially adapt ed for the manufacture ofsickles; but it is evident that it may be applied to the manu- Thelocation and character of the facture of any article which has a thincurved portion of iron or steel.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank, alower plate for supporting the blank, a curved die upon the lower plateand of the shape of the sickle or other article to be made, an upperplate adapted to move to force the blank against the die and having apart adapted to lie over and to compress the blank while the latter isbeing bent, and means for moving the upper plate whereby the blank,whenheated,will be compressed upon its sides and will be bent into thedesired form.

2. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank, alower plate for supporting the blank, having slots in its surface, acurved die upon the lower plate and of the shape of the sickle or otherarticle to be made, an upper plate adapted to move and having a partadapted to lie over and to compress the blank while the latter is beingbent, pins projecting downward from the upper plate into the said slotsand adapted to bear against the blank and to force it against the diewhen the upper plate moves forward, and means for moving the upperplate, whereby the blank, when heated, will be bent into the de siredform.

3. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank, alower plate for sup porting the blank, a curved die upon the lower plateand of the shape of the sickle or other article to be made, an upperplate adapted to move to force the blank against the die and having apart adapted to lie over and to compress the blank while the latter isbeing bent,

and means for moving the upper plate, whereby the blank, when heated,will be bent into the desired form, and a stop-pin in the lower plate toprevent the blank from being drawn back by the upper plate when it movesbackward.

4. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from ablank, alower plate for supportingthe blank, a curved die upon the lower plateand of the shape of the sickle or other article to be made, an upperplate adapted to move to force the blank against the die and having apart adapted to lie over and to coinpress the blank while the latter isbeing bent, means formoving the upper plate to cause it to force theblank against the die and means for returning the upper plate to itsoriginal position, whereby the blank, when heated, will be bent into thedesired forms 5. In a machine for making sickles or similar articlesfrom a blank, a lowerplate forsupporting the blank, a curved die, of theshape of the sickle or other article to be made, an

upper plate adapted to move to force the blan k and the die together andhaving a part adapted to lie over and to compressthe blank while thelatter is being bent, a screw-threaded shaft and means for driving it, ascrew-threaded clutch mounted upon the upper plate and adapted to bethrown into contact with the screw-threaded shaft to cause the upperplate to move forward and to compress the blank, and means for throwingthe clutch into contact with the screw-threaded shaft, whereby theblank, when heated, will be bent into the desired form.

6.- In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank, alower plate for supporting the blank, a curved die, of the shape of thesickle or other article to be made, an upper plate adapted to move toforce the blank and the die together and having a part adapted to lieover and to compress the blank while the latter is being bent, ascrew-threaded shaft and means for driving it, a screw-threaded clutchmounted upon the upper plate and adapted to be thrown into contact withthe screw-threaded shaft to cause the upper plate to move forward and tocompress the blank, and means for throwing the clutch into and out ofcontact with the screw-threaded shaft, whereby the blank, when heated,will be bent into the desired form.

7. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a straightblank, a lower plate for supporting the blank, a curved male die uponthe lower plate and of the shape of the sickle or other article to bemade, an upper plate adapted to move to force the blank against the dieand having a part adapted to lie over and to compress the blank whilethe latter is being bent, a screw-threaded shaft and means for drivingit, a screw-threaded clutch mounted upon a lever upon the upper plateand adapted to be thrown into contact with the screw-threaded shaft tocause the upper plate to move forward and to compress the blank, ahandle upon the lever to throw the clutch into contact with thescrew-threaded shaft, a cut-off adapted to strike the clutch, when theupper plate has reached the limit of its forward movement, to force theclutch out of contact with the screw-threaded shaft, whereby the blank,when heated, will be bent into the desired form.

8. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a straightblank, a lower plate for supporting the blank, a curved male die uponthe lower plate and of the shape of the sickle or other article to bemade, an upper plate adapted to move to force the blank against the dieand having a part adapted to lie over and to compress the blank whilethe latter is being bent, a screw-threaded shaft and means for drivingit, a screw-threaded clutch mounted upon a lever upon the upper plateand adapted to be thrown into contact with the screw-threaded shaft tocause the upper plate to move forward and to compress the blank, ahandle upon the lever to throw the clutch into contact with thescrew-threaded shaft, a cut-off adapted to strike the clutch, when theupper plate has reached the limit of its forward movement, to force theclutch out of contact with the screw threaded shaft, whereby the blank,when heated, will be bent into the desired form, and a weight forreturning the upper plate to its original position.

9. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank, alower plate for supporting the blank, a curved die of the shape of thesickle or other article to be made, an upper plate adapted to move toforce the blank and the die together and having a part adapted to lieover and to compress the blank while the latter is being bent, ascrew-threaded shaft, a support therefor mounted upon posts andadjustable vertically thereon, means for securing said support at anydeterminate height on said posts to admit of the use in the machine ofblanks of-difterent thicknesses, means for driving said shaft, ascrew-threaded clutch mounted upon the upper plate and adapted to bethrown into contact with the screw-threaded shaft to cause the upperplate to move forward and to compress the blank, and means for throwingthe clutch into contact with the screw-threaded shaft, whereby theblank, when heated, will be bent into the desired form.

10. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank, alower plate for supporting the blank, a curved die of the shape of thesickle or other article to be made, an upper plate adapted to move toforce the blank and the die together and having a part adapted to lieover and to compress the blank while the latter is being bent, means formoving the upper plate, and lateral guides for controlling the upperplate in its movement having a slight lateral play to preventbinding,whereby the blank, when heated, will be bent into the desiredform.

11. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank, alower plate for supporting the blank, a curved die of the shape of thesickle or other article to be made, an upper plate adapted to move toforce the blank and the die together and having a part adapted to lieover and to compress the blank while the latter is being bent, means formoving the upper plate, vertical guides for holding the upper plate downupon the blank and means for adjusting such guides to any determinateheight, whereby the blank, when heated, will be bent into the desiredform.

12. In a machine for making sickles or simi lar articles from a straightblank, a lower plate for supporting the blank, a curved male die uponthe lower plate and of the shape of the sickle or other article to bemade, an upper plate adapted to move to force the blank against the dieand having a part adapted to lie over and to compress the blank Whilethe latter is being bent, means for moving the upper plate, lateralguides for controlling the upper plate in'its movement having a slightlateral play to prevent bindin g,vertical guides for holding the upperplate down upon the blank and means for adjusting such guides to anydeterminate height, whereby the blank,

when heated, will be bent into the desired form.

13. In a machine for making sickles or similararticles from a straightblank, a lower plate for supporting the blank, a curved male die uponthe lower plate and of the shape of the sickle or other article to bemade, an upper plate adapted to move to force the blank against the dieand having a part adapted to lie over and to compress the blank whilethe latter is being bent, and means for moving the upper plate, lateralguides for controlling the upper plate in its movement having a slightlateral play to prevent binding, vertical guides for holding the upperplate down upon the blank, bolts and nuts for securing the guides to thelower plate, holes in the vertical guides and lower plate for the bolts,slots in the lateral guides for the bolts having the longer axes of theslots running in a direction transverse to the length of the machine topermit of a slight lateral play to the guides and upper plate, wherebythe blank, when heated, will be bent into the desired form.

14. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a blank,alower plate for supporting the blank, a curved die of the shape of thesickle or other article to be made, an upper plate adapted to move toforce the blank and the die together and having a part adapted to lieover and to compress the blank while the latter is being bent, and meansfor moving the upper plate, and a lever and arm adapted to be pressedagainst the upper plate when moved into its forward position, to forcethe plate into its backward position, whereby the blank, when heated,will be bent into the desired form.

15. In a machine for making sickles or similar articles from a straightblank, a lower plate for supporting the blank, a curved male die uponthe lower plate and of the shape of the sickle or other article to bemade, an upper plate adapted to move to force the blank against the dieand having a part adapted to lie over and to compress the blank whilethe latter is being bent, means for moving the upper plate to cause itto force the blank against the die and means for returning the upperplate to its original position, and a lever and arm adapted to bepressed against the upper plate when moved into its forward position, toforce the plate into its backward position, whereby the blank,whenlheated, will be bent into the desired form,

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD D. WOODS.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, JOHN P. GEMPLER.

